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as our other everyday belongings? Kirk Smith continues:
“ The first step is about fostering and filling knowledge gaps. What does a compliant fire door look like? How should one operate? And what is its role in my building’ s fire safety strategy? Just because a fire door is visually present doesn’ t mean it will work, especially if it has been neglected, misused or its fitted with hardware lacking the correct certification- a fire door certified for domestic use may not be suitable in a high-traffic commercial setting, for example. The industry must look to bridge the gap by providing resources and support tools whilst reminding people that fire safety is a shared responsibility.
“ Where the use of uncertified hardware can compromise the effectiveness of a fire door, it’ s also important to recognise that a building’ s fire doors will not perform as
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intended unless essential hardware has been correctly specified, installed and maintained. Routine maintenance checks are crucial, and responsible persons are urged to assess the certification, gaps, seals, hinges and closing elements on fire doors on a quarterly basis, ensuring they are maintained in an efficient state and in good working order.
“ Though, in any circumstance, occupants should be encouraged to report damage and propped open fire doors. In higher risk buildings where many rely on shared fire safety systems, it’ s vital that people feel comfortable to communicate concerns and, more importantly, know who they can turn to when a fire safety issue arises. Just as we wouldn’ t ignore the smell of gas or exposed live electrical wires on show, you shouldn’ t ignore a faulty or improperly used fire door. With this in mind,
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basic routine fire door safety practices can include:
• Keeping fire doors closed
• Locating fire door signage and recognising emergency escape routes
• Checking hardware and intumescent / smoke seals are in good working order
• Reporting damage on fire doors and their hardware
“ Whether we recognise it or not, fire door safety is embedded into the way we live, work and play and it is wrong to overlook fire doors until we need them in an emergency. Instead, we must strive to create a culture, one that is centred around greater awareness, shared responsibility and competent action. Simply put, it’ s time to give fire doors the same attention as the items that entertain and convenience us.”
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The support that Allegion UK can provide
Allegion UK works closely with reputable bodies such as the GAI, BWF-FDA and DHF and as a conscious member of the supply chain is committed to supporting customers throughout product specification and the necessary installation and maintenance procedures thereafter. Allegion has a wealth of customer support resources, including its newly downloadable‘ Fire Door Hardware Maintenance and Installation Logbook’ which has been designed to address common issues in these areas whilst offering accessible installation guidance and comprehensive maintenance walkthroughs for each of the critical elements of fire door hardware.
www. allegion. com
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